Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu and Senator Orji Kalu have both claimed President Bola Tinubu instructed them to take charge of the APC in Abia State. They posted statements on their official Facebook pages around the same time. The state is governed by Labour Party's Dr. Alex Otti.
Senator Orji Kalu and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu, prominent figures from Abia in the APC, have both stated that President Bola Tinubu tasked them with coordinating the party's activities in the state.
In a Facebook post, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Okezie Kalu thanked President Tinubu for reemphasising on Friday during an engagement that in states without APC governors, the highest-ranking political officeholders like himself should handle party affairs. Kalu wrote:
"Thank you, the President and Commander in chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for insisting that governors should handle the issues of the party in the states with APC Governors, while the highest ranking political office holders like the Deputy Speaker takes care of the affairs in Abia State. [...] Abia APC has never been this united and forward looking thanks to your support. We will deliver Abia votes overwhelmingly."
Senator Orji Kalu, former Abia governor representing Abia North, similarly posted: "I sincerely thank His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the confidence reposed in me, and the marching order to coordinate activities in Abia State in respect of our great party, the All Progressives Congress, APC."
Kalu added that as the most senior governor in the state, he is committed to working closely with all stakeholders in line with the President's directive to produce widely acceptable candidates for victory in the President's re-election bid.
The simultaneous statements underscore efforts to unify the APC in opposition-controlled Abia ahead of future elections.
